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Yellowbirds Join the Freaks Ball, Share the Stage with Guster

Sam Cohen with Guster and their string players. Photo by Vernon Webb

Yellowbirds, the band led by Apollo Sunshine’s Sam Cohen, have joined the lineup for this weekend’s Freaks Ball at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl. The group will open for the Grateful Dead tribute outfit Joe Russo is Dead during the second night of the Freaks Ball, Saturday January 26.
The first night, January 25, will feature American Babies and the Led Zeppelin cover project Bustle in Your Hedgerow. Apollo Sunshine performed at Freaks Ball in 2007.

On Saturday night, Yellowbirds wrapped-up a multi-night run with Guster at Portsmouth, NH’s The Music Hall. Instead of using his own band, Cohen opened each show with touring Guster member—and former Blue Merle frontman—Luke Reynolds (the musicians live near each other in Brooklyn). In addition, string players April Guthrie and Charlene Huang, both of whom are on the road with Guster as part of their acoustic tour, sat in with Cohen for a few songs each night. Cohen also played piano with Guster during their headlining set at various points over the weekend.